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| Winfield Scott Schley. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 1901.
PRAISES SCHLEY'S CONDUCT.
Hodgson Says He Acted as a Commander-in-Chief Should Have Acted in Battle of Santiago.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8.—Lieuteuant Commander Hodgson again occupied the greater part of the Schley court of inquiry yesterday as a witness. He was followed on the stand by Captain W. M. Folger, formerly chief of the bureau of ordinance of the navy department, but commander of the New Orleans during the Spanish war. Lieutenant Dyson also was recalled to add some details to his former testimony concerning the coal supply of the American fleet during the Santiago blockade.
Commander Hodgson repeated and extended his story of the battle of July 3, giving his opinion that Commodore Schley's conduct on that occasion was such as that of a commander-in-chief should have been. He also explained at some length his correspondence with Admiral Schley concerning the alleged colloquy between them while the Santiago engagement was in progress. He said he had had no controversy with the commodore, but he repeated that the commodore had said, "Damn the Texas" when told that that vessel was in danger.
Captain Folger said that the [bombardments…] of the Cristobal Colon on May 31 had been eminently successful in developing the strength of the Spanish shore batteries and had shown them to be very weak. He also said that if the Spanish vessels had attempted to escape at night they could not have been seen by the blockading fleet in bad weather.
Commander Hodgson said that he objected to the tone of the newspaper reports which had put him, a junior officer, in the absurd position of holding a controversy with the commodore.
Changing the line of examination Mr. Hanna then asked: "When the Brooklyn turned with her port helm did she blanket the fire of the Texas? Did she go between the Texas and the enemy?"
Did Not Blanket Texas' Fire.
"I do not think she did. I thought, however, she was going to do it."
"Had she turned the other way was there space enough for her to have made such turn without endangering the Texas?"
"Perfectly— perfectly clear enough space."
Speaking of the blockade of Santiago the witness said that at night the blockading fleet steamed in column in front of the mouth of the harbor and about 400 yards apart.
A number of questions were then asked by the court as follows:
"What was the distance of the Brooklyn from the nearest Spanish vessel when Commodore Schley said to Captain Cook, 'look out, Cook, they're going to ram you.'"
"I should say the distance was about 2,000 or 2,200 yards."
"Did you observe the whole movement of the Brooklyn from the time Commodore Schley gave the order 'hard aport, Cook' until the Brooklyn was steadied on her course to the westward parallel to the Viscaya?"
"I did."
"Did you hear any order given while the Brooklyn was making the turn, to ease or steady the helm?"
"Not until it was eased to parallel the course of the leading Spanish vessel."
"In making the turn did the Brooklyn turn rapidly and continuously or did she have her head longer on some heading than on others?"
"She turned rapidly and continuously."
"Did any of the Spanish ships attempt to ram the Brooklyn in the early part of the battle of July 3?"
"The Maria Teresa evidently made a rank sheer to port toward the Brooklyn with the evident intention of getting into close quarters or ramming."
"What effort was made to ascertain if the Spanish squadron was at Cienfuegos prior to the arrival of the Marblehead?"
"Outside of having the quartermaster go as far aloft as he could and look over the hill tops, I know of none until after the arrival of the Marblehead."
"What orders were signaled by the Brooklyn to the fleet July 3, 1898?"
"I can only say from recollection that my orders were 'clear ship for action and close up, or close in.'"
Captain W. M. Folger detailed his part of the campaign, beginning with the New Orleans' arrival at Santiago as the convoy of the Collier Sterling. He also related how, on May 31, the New Orleans had participated in the bombardment of the Cristobal Colon, then lying in the mouth of Santiago harbor.
"What damage was done to the enemy on that occasion?" asked Captain Lemley.
"I don't think there was any," replied the witness.
"Was there any further effort to capture or destroy the Colon?"
"Not to my knowledge."
"Were all the vessels available engaged in that action?"
"No; the Texas and the Brooklyn were in the rear."
"Was the fire of the enemy's batteries heavy enough to seriously endanger the attacking ships?"
"I do not so consider."
"What developed as to the shore batteries?"
"That they had not strength to do any material damage."
Thought Shots Came From Harbor.
Referring to the bombardment of May 31, Captain Folger expressed the opinion that the shots which had fallen near the fleet on that date were from Spanish ships in the harbor, fired over the hill, and not from the shore batteries. For this reason he had directed all the New Orleans' fire on that occasion at the Colon instead of at the land batteries.
The court asked questions of Captain Folger as follows:
"Did you have any conversation with Commodore Schley as to his purpose in attacking the Colon, May 31?"
"I did not. The information I received was by signal only."
"Were you furnished any plan of battle by Commodore Schley to be followed in case the Spanish squadron should come out?"
"No sir."
Admiral Dewey—"You referred to a signal from the flagship. The court would like to know what that signal was."
"The signal was 'New Orleans, clear ship for action' and I think it was followed by the signal 'the New Orleans, Iowa, Massachusetts will engage the forts, indicating that there was to be a reconnaissance or bombardment. I do not remember any conversation with the commodore that forenoon on that subject."
By the court—"Were the blockading vessels near enough to the entrance of the harbor at night to prevent the escape of the enemy had such an attempt been made?"
"Had the weather been persistently clear, yes; if the weather were thick, rainy or foggy, no."
"Was the weather good or bad during those nights?"
"The weather was generally bad; rainy."
Lieutenant C. W. Dyson was then recalled and gave brief testimony as to the coal supply of the fleet. The court then adjourned.
REPORT ON IMMIGRATION.
Number of Aliens Arrived Was 453,496. Italians Come in Greater Numbers.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8.—The annual report of Thomas Fitchie, commissioner of immigration, has been received at the treasury department. The report shows that the number of aliens arrived at the port of New York during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901, was 453,496. There were also 133,050 citizens of the United States who arrived from abroad.
From a comparison of the steerage immigration for the last two years it is shown that nearly 30,000 of the increase of last year over the year before was in the immigration from Southern Italy alone; but while this race shows the largest numerical increase, others present even greater relative gains. The Ruthenian immigration has nearly doubled; the Armenian and Syrian, as well as the Greek, show an increase of about 50 per cent and the Croatian and Dalmatian about 30 per cent. No other people, not even the Northern Slavs, show gains of sufficient magnitude to be considered of any significance.
From the high relative proportion of the female to the male immigrants in the case of any given people it is safe to assume that the prevalent intention of those people is to remain permanently in this country.
Seth Low.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
New York Mayoralty Fight.
The trite old saw that "politics makes strange bedfellows" has rarely been more aptly illustrated than in the mayoralty campaign now in progress in New York. The issue is squarely defined. It is Tammany versus anti-Tammany. The Republicans, joining hands with the Citizens' Union and other political organizations opposed to the rule of Tammany Hall, nominated for mayor Seth Low, president of Columbia university.. The Democratic party, or Tammany, nominated Edward M. Shepard, a leading representative of the metropolitan bar. Both nominees are prominent in city affairs, both men of undoubted ability and high personal character. Both have been what is termed reformers and independents in politics, and each upon more than one occasion has been outside the pale of party regularity. They have also been active colleagues in more than one campaign, using voice and pen for the advancement of the same political propositions.
Though nominally a Republican, Mr. Low supported Cleveland in 1884 against Blaine and has on other occasions shown his independence of party lines. In the last mayoralty campaign, the first under the charter of the Greater New York, Mr. Low was a candidate for mayor put forward by the Citizens' Union, running against Benjamin F. Tracy, Republican; Robert A. Van Wyck, Tammany Democrat, who was elected, and the late Henry George, supported by the Democracy of Thomas Jefferson, who died suddenly during the campaign. In that contest one of Mr. Low's most ardent supporters was his present opponent.
Mr. Shepard is nominally a Democrat, but has been frequently outside his political camp. In 1894 he opposed the nomination of David B. Hill for governor of New York and organized the Independent Democracy. In 1895 he was the candidate of that party for mayor of Brooklyn, but was defeated. He opposed the election of William J. Bryan in 1896 and became a delegate to the national Gold Democratic convention at Indianapolis. He supported the ticket of that convention, and in 1897, when Seth Low was nominated for mayor, Mr. Shepard gave him hearty support. In 1898 he supported Augustus Van Wyck for governor on the Democratic ticket. In 1900 Mr. Shepard came out as a supporter of Mr. Bryan, being chairman of the Tammany Hall ratification meeting held in Madison Square Garden.
These are some of the political antecedents of the two men now pitted against each other in what is likely to be one of the greatest political battles ever fought in the metropolis. As Bob Acres would say, "It is a very pretty quarrel as it stands," the outcome of which will be watched with keenest interest by the whole country.
Homer, N. Y., Congregational Church.
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY.
Great Interest in the Services at the Homer Congregational Church.
The Organizations ot the Church Treated Historically—The Sunday School, the Ladies' Aid Society, the Foreign Missionary Society, the Young People's Society—Reminiscences—Congregationalism and Presbyterianism Treated from Both Points of View—The Homer Church and the State Missionary Society—The Closing Banquet Tonight.
The second day of the Centennial anniversary of the Congregational church of Homer was auspiciously ushered in by beautiful October weather. The first service opened at 2 P. M. with an organ prelude by Mrs. Wm. H. Foster, organist of the church. Two stanzas of "Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken" were sung, after which Rev. F. G. Webster of Summerhill read the Scripture lesson from Deut, xi: 10-25. Prayer was offered by Rev. E. G. Curtis of Syracuse. A ladies' quartet rendered "Just as God Leads," which was followed by historical reports of the different organizations of the church intended to be the feature of the afternoon. Usually a session devoted to statistical reports is an occasion one is rather inclined to miss. But contrary to established rules the papers were so ably presented and wit was so interspersed with figures that the occasion not only served its primary purpose of being instructive but was most interesting as well.
OUR SUNDAY-SCHOOL.
The first subject presented was "Our Sunday-school" by Dr. J. W. Whitney, a former superintendent. He said in substance as follows: Among the greatest movements in the history of Christianity is the Sunday-school movement of the past century. The child which 100 years ago was a mere cipher in the church, today leads the van in the great onward movement of Christian civilization. Between 1810 and 1815 the first Sunday-schools began to be taught in Philadelphia. This movement spread from city to city, from town to town. In 1819 our own school was formed, so we see our own history spans the whole history of the Sunday-school movement in this country.
From the church record we find the following plan of organization: The church appointed a Sunday-school committee annually who should have charge of the school. It is inferred that this committee elected one of its members as superintendent. This form of governing the school continued till 1855, at which time a motion prevailed that the teachers and scholars elect the superintendent. He noted a few things that took place in the sixties. Every month or so the Sunday-school had a concert. Little is said about singing, but considerable about speaking. The program was printed in very good style and the following is a sample of the questions: "Which is the longest chapter in the Bible? Which is the shortest verse? Who slew more people in his death than in his life? What distinguished generals are mentioned in the Bible?"
In 1869 an infant department was formed with two teachers and fourteen scholars. The Sunday-school at the beginning of the fifteenth century taught the youth how to spell out the words of the Scripture. At the beginning of the twentieth century it teaches them how to spell out the meaning and spirit of those words.
THE LADIES' AID AND HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
Mrs. P. C. Kingsbury spoke for the Ladies' Aid and Home Missionary society. She said the part assigned to her had proved most difficult, as no careful records of mission work were kept until a comparatively recent date. So the paper must consist largely of recollections and impressions. A Woman's Home Missionary society existed as early as 1840, sewing for the church and community. This society was superseded in 1874 by the Benevolent society of the Congregational church of Homer. In 1883 it became auxiliary to the Woman's Home Missionary union of the state of New York. In 1885 the name was changed to the Ladies' Home Missionary society. The treasurer's book since 1874, the earliest to which access can be gained, shows a total of $6,930 raised for various purposes.
OUR WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
Mrs. Martha Jones dealt with this subject of "Our Woman's Foreign Missionary Society," as follows: The first meeting of which there is knowledge was held in 1880 with six young women present in an upper room of the house now owned by Mr. Edward Knapp, at that time the property of Rev. John Keep. Of the success of that meeting there is no record. The first encourager of the foreign missionary spirit was Mrs. Caleb Green who in 1845 became a resident of Homer. Through her endeavors a contribution was sent through the American Board to help sustain a school in Persia, the first money sent through the American Board by the ladies of this church. In 1868 the Woman's Board of Missions was organized in the church. In 1869 the first Woman's Foreign Missionary society was formed. In 1877 new impetus was given to the society by Mrs. Emily Montgomery, a missionary from Aintab, Turkey, and it was through her influence that we became auxiliary to the New York state branch of the Women's Board of Missions. In 1881 the Young Ladies' Missionary society was formed with twenty-four members. They continued a separate organization till 1894 when they joined our auxiliary.
THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETY.
Miss Franc Kingsbury presented the history of the Young People's society. The origin of the Christian Endeavor society of this church really began in 1871. At that time no week day prayer meeting was sustained by the young people. Rev. Wm. A. Robinson, D. D., the pastor, established what was called the Monday evening meeting for young people without constitution or rules. In [1883] the regular attendants of this meeting organized into the Young People's Society of Christian Service, the constitution not differing materially from that of the Christian Endeavor organization. This society was most flourishing. The old chapel was well filled—the front seats as well as the back ones. Many will recall the old chapel on a cold winter night. There was a remarkably free circulation of air around our feet, while the upper air was heated to a stifling degree by the big box stove in charge of any member of the audience who happened to sit near and was feeling chilly. In 1890, following the Methodist and Baptist churches, the Christian Service society adopted the Christian Endeavor pledge and constitution. Not till 1893 did records begin to be kept. The society has contributed considerable money for different objects in the church work. There is a great need of renewal of interest in the meetings and unless the members not only endeavor but do, the society will lose its hold upon life despite its wonderfully strong constitution. In 1896 a Junior Endeavor society was organized which has been very well sustained.
REMINISCENCES.
Rev. W. B. Dada of Otisco next presented some reminiscences. Rev. Mr. Dada passed his early life in Homer and was prepared for college at Homer academy. He is in town not only to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the church, but his own 74th birthday which occurs Oct. 8. He gave most humorous and delightful recollections of Priest Keep, Dr. Henry A. Nelson, Rev. Dennis Platt and Rev. T. K. Fessenden, during whose pastorate he owned to being a silent witness to a very humorous, practical joke, although he would not confess to being among the perpetrators.
One of the deacons under the conviction that Mr. Fessenden's sermon would be all that it ought to be had resigned himself to sleep with his head leaned back. Some boys in the gallery directly above considered his upturned open mouth a shining mark and took aim at it with a bullet enclosed in a paper wad. The shot hit his chin, rousing him immediately to an upright position which he continued to assume till the end of the sermon. In Mr. Dada's estimation those boys were unconsciously proving the truth of the doctrine of total depravity and the demonstration seemed eminently satisfactory. This was but one of the many amusing stories which Mr. Dada recounted of old Homer days.
The next impromptu speaker was Dr. E. J. Peck, a former principal of Homer academy. He said that the church when founded one hundred years ago occupied the schoolhouse. Church and school started together, illustrating the fact that these two institutions are always mutually dependent. There is no religion without intelligence and no intelligence worth having without religion. The regents of the state of New York were organized a little more than one hundred years ago. The result of their work culminated in the establishment of a few academies throughout the state. Homer academy was among the few. These academies started other academies. Finally the state was obliged to make provision for state education. Homer was thus one of the pioneers in founding and influencing state education. Dr. Peck paid glowing tributes to the sympathetic treatment he received here and warmly testified to the catholicity of spirit in the church.
OUR NEW COMERS.
Rev. F. W. Dickinson next spoke as a new comer to the town. He regretted the misfortune of being born elsewhere than in Homer, but had rectified the matter as far as possible by making his residence here. He said that at every step we take in life we are new comers. As the oak cannot go back into the acorn so this church cannot go back into what it was. It is constantly coming away from the bondage of the letter [sic] into the larger fullness of the spirit.
The addresses of the afternoon were pleasantly interspersed with music rendered by Misses Pomeroy, Arnold and Mr. R. J. McElheny. At the close of the speaking Rev. W. F. Kettle gave notice that two letters sent for the afternoon reading would be reserved till the evening service. These were from Dr. Webb of the Park-st. Congregational church, West Springfield, Mass., and Mr. Howard Webb of New Haven, Conn., a former Homer boy. Notice was also given of a list prepared for the banquet, on Tuesday evening, subject to change.
Rev. W. A. Robinson, D. D., of Middletown, N. Y. will Speak on "A Pastors Reminiscences of Twenty-one Years of Service;" Rev. Ethan Curtis of Syracuse has been assigned the subject "Territorial Limits;" Rev. Robert Yost of Cortland will tell of "The Work of a Neighbor;" Rev. F. G. Webster of Summerhill is to speak on "The Outlook from the Heights." It is also expected that Rev. Dr. T. T. Munger will speak.
The attention of the audience was called to a valuable collection of manuscripts and books on exhibition, Including among others the original diagram of seating in the old church; a book bearing the first church records dated 1801; the original subscription paper dated 1811 for purchasing a bell; the paper on which the church members according to agreement were assessed for the support of the church from the assessment role of the town. Most of these have come into the possession of the church by gift of the late Dr. E. W. Hitchcock.
After the singing of the hymn "How Firm a Foundation Ye Saints of the Lord," the audience was dismissed with the benediction pronounced by Rev. W. B. Dada.
MONDAY EVENING.
The Congregational church was again filled on Monday evening with another large and interested audience assembled to hear and take part in the further services of the anniversary season. Prayer was offered by Rev. Wm. B. Dada of Otisco and the Scripture lesson, Rev., vii, 9-17, was read by the pastor.
The first address of the evening was by Rev. Ethan Curtis. D. D., of Syracuse, and his theme was "The Relation of the Homer Church to the State Home Missionary Society." Dr. Curtis first spoke of the necessity of home missions in general. The spirit of Christianity is a missionary spirit. Christ himself was a home missionary and he sent out the first home missionaries. The true philosophy of missions is first missionary work in the home field and then in the foreign field. The work must be strong at home before it can go abroad. A dead church has no desire to go abroad. There are two phases of missionary work: going forth to work; staying at home but sacrificing and giving so that others may go. We hear of altruism in the twentieth century. The altruistic church must be a missionary church, a witnessing church.
The Homer church has had this spirit in both of its forms. It has sent men and women to the missionary field, and it has supported them with money. No other church in Central New York has a better record than this church. The Homer church has given $160,000 for missions during the century. This includes both home and foreign missions. It has given $140,000 in legacies and $20,000 in contributions from the living. Of this $100,000 has gone for work in our own country and $50,000 of this sum has gone to the Home Missionary society. I wish the ladies would get the pictures of those donors to preserve in the archives of the church. Those who have given legacies are Elias Root and wife, Mary Keep (alone gave $75,000), Deacon B. W. Payne and wife, Lyman Hubbard and Manley Hobart.
Rev. Dr. Robinson, your former pastor had much to do with the founding of the state society. He was for twenty-four years a trustee of it and for twelve years its president. Dr. J. C. Holbrook, another former pastor, was its first secretary. Rev. W. F. Kettle, your pastor, is now a trustee. This church has been almost continuously connected with the society. No other church in the state has such a record.
One lady or your number, Mrs. Hitchcock, has been for seventeen years vice-president of the Woman's Missionary society in the Central association. I congratulate the church on this marvelous record, both as to the money contributed and as to its men and women who have represented it.
Two other addresses were made at this service, one a paper by the late Rev. E. W. Hitchcock, D. D., and read by the pastor and the other by Rev. W. A. Robinson, D. D. The former was on "The Indebtedness of the Congregational Church of Homer to Presbyterianism," and the latter on "The Indebtedness of Presbyterianism to Congregationalism." Owing to the great pressure of other local matter we must defer further reference to them till tomorrow.
A telegram of regrets at his inability to be present was read from Hon. Andrew D. White, ambassador to Germany, who has just returned from Berlin to this country.
Two remarkably interesting letters were also read: one from Rev. Wm. H Webb, pastor of the Park-st. Congregational church of West Springfield, Mass., and the other from Attorney Howard C. Webb of New Haven, Ct., both former residents of Homer and children of the church.
Tonight at 6 o'clock the concluding event of the anniversary will occur in the banquet and the speeches which will follow, to which reference has already been made.
BREVITIES.
—A regular meeting of the Royal Arcanum council will he held this evening at G. A. R. hall at 7:30 o'clock.
—The Ladies' Literary club will meet tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 o'clock at the home of Miss M. Roe, 77 Railroad-st.
—The Knights of Columbus will confer the first degree this evening. Members are requested to be present at 8 o'clock sharp.
—New display advertisements today are—Brown's pharmacy, Care of the teeth, page 6; M. A. Case, Underwear, page 6; Cortland Opera House, "York State Folks," page 6.
—Mr. Chas. H. Burhans, of 147 Homer-ave., has raised a mammoth battle gourd in his garden that measured 3 1/2 feet in length. Mr. B. R. Knapp has secured the same and will dry it.
—A regular meeting of Tendese tribe, No. 415, I. O. R. M., will be held in Good Templars' hall on Main-st., tomorrow, Wednesday evening, at 7:30 o'clock sharp. All members are requested to be present.
—Fifteen liquor tax certificates at Sylvan Beach have been revoked by Justice Wright in special term at Oswego on the ground of violation of the liquor tax law in selling liquor unlawfully on the Sunday preceding Labor Day.
—Cortland chapter, No. 194, R. A. M., will confer the M. M. degree at their regular convocation Wednesday evening. This will be the first meeting of the chapter since their adjournment for the warm weather, and after conferring the degree a "smoker" will be enjoyed.
—George B. Mattice of Elmira, the Lackawanna engineer who is charged with criminal negligence that resulted in the death of five men in the railroad wreck and explosion at Vestal on June 28 has been indicted by the grand jury for manslaughter in the second degree.
—The report of the treasurer of the Volunteer Firemen's Home association shows that from Aug. 1, 1900 to July 1, 1901 the total receipts were $25,967.11 and that, the total payments were $9,851.18, leaving a balance of $16,115.93. The home has fifty-six inmates.
—A. B. Rowley, formerly of Cortland, died at 2 o'clock yesterday morning at his home in Syracuse. The funeral will be held tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock at Syracuse and the remains will arrive in Cortland on the 2:28 train tomorrow afternoon for burial. Deceased was a brother of Daniel Rowley of McLean.
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